Spectators of distant suffering : towards an interdisciplinary approach for empirical inquiry: results of expert interviews

This paper presents the first results of an on-going research project to investigate possibilities for an interdisciplinary and multi-methodological approach to study audiences in the face of mediated distant suffering. Several steps have already been taken to ascertain viewers’ reactions to images of distant suffering (Höijer 2004; Seu 2010; Kyriakidou 2011; Scott 2014). So far, most empirical inquiries have been undertaken in different disciplinary fields and although each contribution is valuable, the accumulating body of empirical knowledge still lacks coherence or structure. In our view, there is need for a more structured interdisciplinary and holistic understanding of audience reactions to images of distant suffering. This paper contributes to this discussion by drawing on interviews with different experts in both academic and practical areas of expertise. Academically from the fields of sociology, social psychology, ethics, cultural anthropology, communication science, political science and philosophy of science. Other expert interviews are held with those working in practical fields; functionaries of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), journalists and policy experts. The main objective of this project is to disentangle major methodological, epistemological and ontological differences and similarities amongst the different fields of research and practice. Secondly, this study will further deliberate on the advantages and disadvantages of an interdisciplinary and multi-methodological approach for empirical inquiries into audience reactions to distant suffering.